University of Tehran Journal of Range and Watershed Managment 5044-2008 78 4 2026 01 01 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Conservation and Restoration Measures on Vegetation Cover Improvement and Forage Production in Semi-Arid Rangelands Evaluating the Effectiveness of Conservation and Restoration Measures on Vegetation Cover Improvement and Forage Production in Semi-Arid Rangelands 547 565 105466 10.22059/jrwm.2025.396695.1840 FA Hossein Moradi Department of Reclamation of Arid & Mountain Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Mohammad Jafari Department of Reclamation of Arid & Mountain Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran ِAli Tavili Department of Reclamation of Arid & Mountain Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Hossein Azarnivand Department of Reclamation of Arid & Mountain Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Mohammad Tahmoures Water and Soil Conservation Engineering Department, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute (SCWMRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran Esmaeil Alizadeh Department of Reclamation of Arid & Mountain Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Journal Article 2025 06 04 Integrated rangeland ecosystem management is recognized as an effective strategy for improving vegetation cover, forage production, and enhancing sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions. In this study, the effects of various conservation and ecosystem restoration measures (including seeding, Transplanting, terracing combined with transplanting, contour banding with transplanting, pitting with seeding, and contour furrowing with transplanting) were investigated on vegetation characteristics and forage production in the rangelands of Vardij village, Tehran Province. Sampling was conducted systematically and randomly during the growing season using 4 m² plots along 100-meter transects. Vegetation characteristics were precisely recorded and the related data were analyzed. The results indicated that the aforementioned conservation measures had significant effects on vegetation variables, leading to a remarkable increase in vegetation canopy cover and a reduction in bare soil. The highest mean canopy cover (59.97%) and the lowest percentage of bare soil (7.93%) were observed in the transplanting treatment, whereas the control rangelands had the lowest canopy cover (23.2%) and the highest bare soil percentage (29.2%). Other methods, such as seeding and terrace transplanting, also showed positive effects on vegetation cover improvement. Regarding forage production, the transplanting treatment yielded the highest mean production (423 kg/ha), followed by seeding (367 kg/ha) and terrace transplanting (388 kg/ha). The control rangelands exhibited the lowest forage yield. These findings highlight the crucial role of conservation and restoration measures in enhancing vegetation cover and rangeland sustainability. Accordingly, it is recommended that future management plans utilize a combination of methods, including transplanting and seeding, to improve the quality and sustainability of rangeland ecosystems. Integrated rangeland ecosystem management is recognized as an effective strategy for improving vegetation cover, forage production, and enhancing sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions. In this study, the effects of various conservation and ecosystem restoration measures (including seeding, Transplanting, terracing combined with transplanting, contour banding with transplanting, pitting with seeding, and contour furrowing with transplanting) were investigated on vegetation characteristics and forage production in the rangelands of Vardij village, Tehran Province. Sampling was conducted systematically and randomly during the growing season using 4 m² plots along 100-meter transects. Vegetation characteristics were precisely recorded and the related data were analyzed. The results indicated that the aforementioned conservation measures had significant effects on vegetation variables, leading to a remarkable increase in vegetation canopy cover and a reduction in bare soil. The highest mean canopy cover (59.97%) and the lowest percentage of bare soil (7.93%) were observed in the transplanting treatment, whereas the control rangelands had the lowest canopy cover (23.2%) and the highest bare soil percentage (29.2%). Other methods, such as seeding and terrace transplanting, also showed positive effects on vegetation cover improvement. Regarding forage production, the transplanting treatment yielded the highest mean production (423 kg/ha), followed by seeding (367 kg/ha) and terrace transplanting (388 kg/ha). The control rangelands exhibited the lowest forage yield. These findings highlight the crucial role of conservation and restoration measures in enhancing vegetation cover and rangeland sustainability. Accordingly, it is recommended that future management plans utilize a combination of methods, including transplanting and seeding, to improve the quality and sustainability of rangeland ecosystems. https://jrwm.ut.ac.ir/article_105466_b9ffedafec29215afac84aa66c28a2e1.pdf